Holmes County villages

Sunday

Oct 28, 2007 at 4:02 AM

Millersburg

Mayor

Jeff Huebner

18 Cliff Lane

Millersburg

Republican

Age: 39.

Occupation: Compound mixer for Seaman Corp.

Qualifications: "I have been the mayor since Oct. 1, 2006, and have lived in Millersburg for the past 19 years. I have served on village council since January of 2002. I am a lifelong resident of Holmes County."

Response: "One of the problems facing the village at this time is lack of additional water wells. In the past year we have made significant progress on this."

Clerk-treasurer

Karen S. Shaffer

351 S. School St.

Millersburg

Non-Partisan

Age: Did not respond.

Occupation: Clerk-treasurer, income tax administrator.

Qualifications: "Village clerk since April 1991. Became tax administrator in January 1999 and the combined office of clerk-treasurer in January 2001. Completed the Certified Municipal Clerk's three-year program through Kent State, becoming certified in September 2002. Currently enrolled in the Master Municipal Clerk's Program through KSU. Completed numerous training sessions, both mandatory and optional, sponsored by the State Auditors Office. Successfully completed the required courses for elected officials through U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Member of Ohio Municipal Clerk's Association, International Institute of Municipal Clerks, Ohio Municipal League Joint Self-Insurance Board member and Holmes County Family & Children First Council."

Response: "As with any small government, revenue is always an issue. With budget cuts and reduction in revenues received from the state, we are always looking for additional funding sources for major improvement projects. Additional funding is not always possible from outside sources, which then puts the burden on the citizens of the community. One of the biggest projects, in the early planning stages, is the addition of a new water well field. A multi-million dollar project, the village will need to be aggressive and pursue all avenues for funding, with the least amount of burden placed on its residents and businesses."

Council (elect 2)

James L. Beechy

343 E. Jones St.

Millersburg

Age: 60.

Occupation: Retired military and currently customer service manager, Carter Custom Millwork.

Qualifications: "I have owned my own business, held numerous community and church leadership positions, served as township trustee and served as command sergeant major in the U.S. Army. I have been married for 40 years and have three grown children, all living in the local area."

Response: "Being prepared for the future growth of the village, and the effects on our infrastructure, i.e. streets, water, sewage, utilities and housing.

"Ensure people with vision and knowledge of organized growth are involved with local leaders to develop long range, short range, and near term plans for that growth and development."

Junior Vaughn

74 E. Jones St.

Millersburg

Republican

Age: 74.

Occupation: Semi-retired plumber.

Qualifications: "I have been a lifetime resident of the community and village of Millersburg. Have been owner and operator of Vaughn Plumbing for 24 years. I am a Korean War veteran, am a member and elder of Millersburg Presbyterian Church. I had been a council member 25 years ago and am a present council member."

Response: "My pressing concern for the village is the city water wells. The quality of the water.

"Solution is to acquire land and drill new wells for the city."

Glenmont

Mayor

Lester Gray

130 Main St., P.O. Box 427

Glenmont

Did not respond.

Clerk-treasurer

Vivian J. Ashcraft

138 Main St., P.O. Box 326

Glenmont

Nonpartisan

Age: 51.

Occupation: Bookkeeper.

Qualifications: "I have 25+ years bookkeeping/accounting experience, with a resume that includes payables, receivables, payroll, tax filings, budgets and financial reporting. I am currently working toward my associate degree in accounting. I have extensive computer knowledge and have attended many seminars in computer use, teamwork, organizational skills and leadership, among others. My previous employers have praised me for my ability to organize and prioritize, and for my initiative. I served on Glenmont Board of Public Affairs for several years. I am a Notary Public, a Hospice volunteer and a member of Glenmont's Seven Hills Garden Club."

Response: "Glenmont is a viable and solvent community with good leadership. With the current fiscal officer seeking township political office, I feel a community-minded obligation to offer my experience and qualifications to help our village maintain that viability and solvency."

Misti Money

113 Main St., P.O. Box 293

Glenmont

Republican

Age: 31.

Occupation: Office manager, Barton Furniture Delivery.

Qualifications: "I previously worked for Commercial & Savings Bank and ran a successful Tastefully Simple business. Currently, I am an office manager for Barton Furniture Delivery. My experience handling and processing payments, keeping up-to-date account records, processing payroll, as well as preparing tax statements will help me in the position of village clerk/treasurer.

"Running my own business has also given me the know-how to work independently and in a group setting. All of these things are crucial to the efficiency and timeliness required by this office."

Response: "The most pressing problem in Glenmont is the flooding that occurs every time we get a heavy rain. In my new leadership position, I would like to hear the community's opinions on this matter and work on an appropriate solution, such as an effective flood notification system.

"I will take the opinions of the community to the floor and try to have them enacted not only with our community leaders, but also with our county or state officials."

Council (elect 2)

Vera K. "Minni" Conner

813 Depot St.

Glenmont

Republican

Age: 43.

Occupation: Lawn care and homemaker.

Qualifications: "I am very people/child oriented. As I went door-to-door with my petition, some of our residents expressed concerns and I have those concerns too. I listened to the village's people and know I cannot singlehandedly make changes. But I will voice a strong opinion for what I believe will benefit our community."

Response: "Our youth. We have children of all ages who are on the streets from the time they get off of the bus, until and sometimes after it becomes dark.

"As a community, with parent education, we could pull together and develop a program for activity and after school recreation for these kids. Reward their good behavior by giving them a reason to not want to be out and get into trouble. If a child is in boredom, that child will find something to do whether it's good or bad. Let's offer some fun incentive to the kids."

Dan Doolittle

601 Harrington St.

P.O. Box 292

Glenmont

Did not respond.

Fern Sowers

128 Main St., P.O. Box 34

Glenmont

Age: 75.

Occupation: Factory worker; hair dresser.

Qualifications: "Resident of Glenmont all of my life. I try to help with community activities. I have a beauty shop. Love working for the community."

Response: "Young kids. We need something for the kids to do to keep them out of trouble."

Board of Public Affairs

No filings.

Holmesville

Mayor

Michael D. Haas

110 N. Taylor St.

P.O. Box 199

Holmesville

Did not respond.

Brian M. Rafferty

219 Smith St., P.O. Box 36

Holmesville

Age: 30.

Occupation: Landscaper.

Qualifications: "Life-long resident of Holmesville; village council member, 2004-present; council president pro tem 2005, 2006, 2007; member of Prairie Township Fire Department; completion of Holmes County Leadership Class 2006; completed three areas of National Incident Management System course through FEMA; member of Holmes County Safety Council Steering Committee."

Response: "A major issue is getting residents to trust that their opinions and concerns will be listened to. I will not have the answers to all the issues that come up, so I will expect to hear what residents think the solution may be. Whenever someone has called me about a concern, I have always tried to talk to that person face-to-face. I want to be proactive instead of reactive.

"While money is always the deciding factor on what gets done, I believe that with proper planning, aggressively seeking grant money, and a little elbow grease things can happen."

Council (elect 2)

Sharon Mackey

210 E. Main St., P.O. Box 51

Holmesville

Democrat

Age: 60.

Occupation: Factory laborer.

Qualifications: "I have lived in Holmesville for 40 years. I've been on council for many years and served on various committees that have brought about such positive improvements in the village, such as the sewer system, curbs, sidewalks and the town hall building with improvements."

Response: "As with most small villages, adequate funds to maintain or improve streets, lighting, equipment and our town hall building is our most pressing problem.

"The current council has placed a levy on the ballot this fall to help with costs of maintaining or upgrading streets and alleys around town."

Board of Public Affairs

Gregory D. Lemon

202 E. Main St., P.O. Box 328

Holmesville

Did not respond.

Killbuck

Mayor

Denny W. Hahn

175 Purdy St.

Killbuck

Did not respond.

Council (elect 2)

Robert E. Rowe

164 E. Spring St.

Killbuck

Did not respond.

Board of Public Affairs (elect 2)

Donald L. Hughes

125 Allison Ave..

Killbuck

Republican

Age: Did not respond.

Occupation: Teacher.

Qualifications: "I am currently completing my fifth year on the Board of Public Affairs. I am serving within the village on the park board and Killbuck Area Scholarship committee. I have dealt with numerous county, state and federal agencies in a variety of capacities. I have lived in Killbuck for 17 years, along with my wife and three children. I understand the issues/concerns of our residents because I am a resident of the community."

Response: "The village of Killbuck is now entering into Phase II of a state mandate I/I project to rehabilitate the sewer lines. The Board of Public Affairs has worked very hard to find as much "free" money in the form of grants and zero percent loans to complete this project. With budget cuts in all federal and state programs, this has become even more of a challenge, therefore forcing the village to work at other "creative" funding services.

"The village will soon be facing the issue in a new water treatment plant to meet environmental standards being implemented across the " exceeded the word limit.

Kevin O. Kauffman

115 W. Jackson St.

P.O. Box 402

Killbuck

Age: 48.

Occupation: Oil field worker.

Qualifications: "I have been on the BPA board for six years, which has given me a lot of experience in budgetary issues and dealing with engineers for a $1,700,000 I & I project that I should see through fruition in 2008. I have worked hard to get the $850,000 in grants and $840,000 in 0 percent loans for the village's I & I project. In the past six years, I have also learned a lot about the operations and EPA issues of the wastewater and water plants."

Response: "There are always the relentless issues created by the EPA. The village will have to deal with water issues and a new water plant in the very near future to meet EPA regulations. For instance in 2006 the Federal EPA changed limits on the arsenic levels allowed in our water. They reduced the arsenic levels from 50 ppb to 10 ppb. The village's arsenic levels are around 8 ppb, which puts us on the EPA's radar. This means we have to monitor our water more frequently per year. Once Killbuck hits the 10 ppb the EPA will require a water plant."

Nashville

No filings for mayor, clerk-treasurer or council.

Municipal

court

Jane Irving Baserman

5059 Township Road 339

Millersburg

Republican

Age: 60.

Occupation: Judge, Holmes County Municipal Court.

Qualifications: "West Holmes High School, 1965; Bowling Green State University, 1969; Ohio State University College of Law, 1972; Judge since 1987."

Response: Did not respond.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.